The Vice President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Mr Dominik Ziller, has commended livestock farmers supported by Rwanda Dairy Development Project (RDDP) in Ruhango district, Southern province for efforts made towards improved dairy farming practices.
Ziller was accompanied by Mr Jean Claude Musabyimana, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Ms Alice Kayitesi, Governor of the Southern Province and Dr Patrick Karangwa, Director General of Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and other officials.
The team visited Milk Collection Centre (MCC) Byimana and Livestock Farmer Field School (LFFS) in Ruhango district and met with farmers (Project beneficiaries) who shared testimonies on a wide range of practices that had ultimately promoted livesto
ck and dairy farming and, poverty alleviation in the area.
During the visit, Ziller was impressed by farmer’s efforts to increase milk production, improve lives and incomes through improved dairy farming.
“I am impressed to see such significant results in terms of improved dairy farming and happy to hear your good success stories about increased livestock production and improved incomes,” said Ziller.
He reaffirmed World Bank’s commitment to help farmers to improve rural incomes by intensifying dairy production and improving market access.
Addressing farmers, Musabyimana commended farmer’s efforts to achieve increased dairy production for sustained household income, nutrition and milk production.
“I am impressed by your hard work to transform dairy farming. The government is committed to support your efforts to make dairy farming more productive and sustainable,” he said.
The delegation later visited farmers supported by the recently phased out project Post-Harvest and Agribusiness Support Project (PASP) in Kamonyi district.
RDDP funded by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) with contributions from the Rwanda government and other development partners covers 12 districts across Rwanda.
The project is implemented under SPIU IFAD funded Projects with a focus on improving milk quantity and quality, farmers’ processing capacity through promotion of climate smart technologies and practices, and support the development of dairy cooperatives to benefit from market driven production, processing and trading of dairy products improved. It will also help strengthen an inclusive policy and institutional framework for the sector.